SCHOOL LAWS 

OF THE 

Territory of Alaska 



Issued by Authority 

Territorial Board of Education 

August 15, 1919 




Compiled 3y 

LESTER D. HENDERSON, 

Commissioner of Education, 
Juneau, Alaska. 



SCHOOL LAWS 



OF THE 



Territory of Alaska 



Issued by Authority 

Territorial Board of Education 

August 15, 1919 



Compiled By 

LESTER D. HENDERSON, 

Commissioner of Education, 
Juneau, Alaska. 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

RECEIVED 

OCT 2 1924 

DOCUMENTS DIVISION 



Q 



^ \ 



Table of Contents. 



Article 


I 


Article 


II 


Article 


III 


Article 


IV 


Article 


V 


Article 


VI 


Article 


VII 


Article 


VIII 


Article 


IX 


Article 


X 


Article 


XI 


Article 


XII 


Article 


XIII 


Article XIV 


Article 


XV 


Article 


XVI 


Article 


XVII 



Pages. 

—Territorial Board of Education 11 

— Commissioner of Education 12 

— Certification of Teachers : 15 

— General Regulations 17 

— School Districts in Incorporated Towns 20 

— Incorporated School Districts..... 21 

— School Districts Outside Incorporated Towns.... 25 

— Citizenship Night Schools 28 

— Normal High Schools 29 

— Textbook Commission 30 

— Compulsory Education 32 

— Territorial Refund — Schools in Incorporated 

Towns and Districts 33 

— School Fund — Districts Outside Incorporated 

Towns 35 

— School Tax 36 

— School Lands 40 

— Lease of School Lands... 41 

— Agricultural College and School of Mines 42 



INDEX 



INDEX 



Agricultural College and School of Mines — Section 

Appropriations for buildings and equipment 149 

Board of Trustees — Appointment, etc 143 

Board of Trustees — Meetings 145 

Board of Trustees — Powers and Duties 146 

College Established 142 

Executive Head — Powers and Duties 147 

General Power Granted 148 

Purposes of institution 141 

Certification of Teachers — 

Certificates required ". 30 

Certificates by Indorsement 31 

First, Second and Third Grade 32 

Place of Examination 33 

Revocation of certificates 35 

Special Certificates 33 

Temporary Certificates 34 

Time of Examination 36 

Citizenship Night Schools — 

Apportionment of Funds 92 

Attendance Required 87 

Course of Instruction 88 

Expenditures — 'School Board to Report 91 

Establishment of Citizenship Night Schools '. 85 

Instructors — Compensation of 90 

Report of Commissioner of Education S6 

Sessions — Number of weekly 87 

Textbooks 89 

Commissioner of Education — 

Appointment . 11 

Bond , 16 

Oath of Office 15 

Office Provided 13 

Powers and Duties: 

Approve expenditures Ill 

Budget of proposed expenditures — To approve 108 

Bulletins — To publish 23 

. Citizenship Night Schools — To approve subjects pre- 
sented 88 

Citizenship Night Schools — To approve report of school 

board 89 

Citizenship Night Schools — To approve continuance 87 

Citizenship Night Schools — To apportion funds 92 

Citizenship Night Schools — To issue regulations 86 

Citizenship Night Schools — To recommend textbooks.... 89 

Certificates by Indorsement — To grant 31 

Certificates — To issue first, second and third grade 32 



6 INDEX 

Section 

Certificates — To issue special 33 

Certificates — To issue temporary 34 

Certificates — To revoke 35 

Course of Study — To prepare - 22 

Election papers — To file certified copies of 80 

Elementary Schools — To examine and accredit 29 

Examinations — Eighth Grade - 25 

Examinations — Teachers' certificates - 36 

Funds to districts outside incorporated towns — To 

assign 82 

Normal High Schools — To authorize establishment of.... 94 

Normal High Schools — To choose textbooks 95 

Normal High Schools — To examine students 95 

Normal High Schools — To outline course of study 95 

Normal High Schools — To prescribe rules and regula- 
tions 95 

Normal High Schools — To specify qualifications of in- 
structors 95 

Papers, Reports, etc. — To file 21 

Policies of Territorial Board — To execute 14 

Records, Books, etc.— To deliver 27 

Records and Statistics — To keep 20 

Reports — To require - ----- 19 

Rules and Regulations — To prescribe 26 

Sanitary regulation — To prescribe 26 

School building plans — To approve 46 

School building sites — To approve 46 

School Census — To prepare blanks 48 

School day — To approve length 41 

Secondary Schools — To examine and accredit 29 

Supervise all public educational institutions 17 

Teachers' institutes — To provide 29 

Textbook Commission — To serve as member 96-99-100 

Textbook Commission — To appoint members 96 

Textbooks — To notify boards of adoption 101 

Travel outside Territory..— IS 

Traveling expenses — To submit statement 28 

Qualifications - 12 

Vacancies in office - 12 

Compulsory Education — 

Duties of principals and school boards 105 

Penalties for violation 104 

Provisions as to school attendance 103 

General Regulations — 

Accredited elementary schools defined 5i 

Accredited secondary schools defined 50 

Alcoholic drinks and narcotics — Instructions in required.... 52 

Annual report required: 43 

Building plans must be approved 46 

Elementary schools defined 49 

Examination regarding effects of alcoholic drinks and nar- 
cotics required : - 54 

Fire drills required 47 

Partisan, Sectarian or Denominational Doctrines prohibited 38 



INDEX 7 

Section 

Rules and regulations must be complied with 44 

School census to be taken 48 

School day denned 41 

School holidays defined 42 

School month defined 40 

School year defined 39 

Secondary schools defined 49 

U. S. Flag must be displayed 45 

Use of school house authorized.. 39 

incorporated School Districts — 

Bond of treasurer and assessor 62 

Clerk of Board — Duties 72 

Communities may incorporate 57 

Electors — Qualifications of 64 

Incorporation — Manner of 63 

Judges of election — Duties 65-67 

Judges of Election — Citizens 67 

Order establishing district _ 66 

School board — Citizens 68 

School board — Divide into two classes 69 

School board — Filling of vacancies in 70 

School board — Organization of 53 

School board — Powers of common councils.... 61 

School board — Prescribe rules 71 

School tax — Board may levy 50 

Taxation consented to 72 

Taxes — A lien on property 60 

Lease of School Lands; — 

Application and contents 139 

Assignment of lease — Limitations on 137 

Forfeiture of lease 138 

Lessors, Governor and Secretary 135 

Lease money in school fund 136 

Rules and Regulations 141 

Statements, etc., under oath 140 

Normal High Schools' — 

Authorized by Commissioner of Education 94 

Course — -Length of ,. 93 

Course of Study _ __. 95 

Establishment of Normal High Schools 93 

Examination of students 95 

Instructors 95 

Regulations governing .._ 94-95 

Textbooks 95 

School Districts in Incorporated Towns — 

Common Council, powers of: 

Establish Districts 55 

Levy Tax for school purposes 56 

Establishment of School districts 55 

School Board: 

Election of 

Duties of 



8 INDEX 

Power of 

Terms of Service of 55 

Tax for School Purposes 56 

School Districts Outside Incorporated Towns — Section 

Appropriations — Limitations of use of 84 

Board : 

Duties of Board on Election 80 

First Election of 75 

Powers of •. - 78 

Report to Commissioner of Education 81 

Terms of Service of 79 

Vacancies „ 76 

Bond of Treasurer 77 

Electors — Qualifications of 76 

Establishment of 73 

Funds — Assignment of 82 

Laws to which Schools Subject 83 

Petition — Contents of 74 

School Funds — Districts Outside Incorporated Towns — 

Additional funds provided 114 

Schools for white children and children of mixed blood .... 113 

Source and Disposition' of 'Alaska Fund" 112 

School Lands — 

Sections 16 and 36 Reserved, Section 33 in Tanana Valley 

Reserved — Provisions for leasing 133 

Site for Agricultural College and School of Mines 134 

School Tax- 
Amount of tax f 115 

Collector — Appointment of ...117-131 

Collector — Powers of 126 

Collector — Remuneration of 129 

Collector — Penalty for non-performance of duty 132 

Collector— Report of 128 

Common Councils — Duty of 116 

Delinquent — 'When — Penalty 121 

Employers — Duties and liabilities of 124 

Employers — Action against — Penalty 125 

Non-payment — Penalty for 12V, 

Notice Publication — Contents 118 

Notice Publication — Monthly 119 

Payable— When 120 

Persons taxed 115 

Receipts - 123 

School Board — Duties of 117 

Territorial Treasurer — Duties of 127 

U. S. Commissioner — Duties 12<6 

TJ. S. Commissioner — Fees 126 

TJ. S. Marshal— Duties 126 

TJ. S. Marshal— Fees 120 

Territorial Board of Education — 

Authorization of Territorial Board of Education 2 

Budget of Expenses — Preparation of 7 



INDEX 

Expenditures— Supervise and audit SeCti ° n 

-final court of appeals - 9 

Meetings 6 

Organization 4 

Reports from School Board 3 

Rules and Regulations ** 

Seal — Adoption of " " " 5 

School System established "ZZZZZZ". '"" 10 

Territorial Refund-Schools in Incorporated Towns and Districts*- 

Accounts— Approval of 

Elementary schools— Refund for Ul 

Expenditures : - 106 

Estimate of 

Restrictions of " 1°8 

High Schools— Refund for "" ' ' 109 

Improvements not restricted "" 10G 

Normal Schools— Refund for "' ' " 107 

Refund — Manner of .... ' " "'"' 106 

Reports— Quarterly ■ - m 

110 

Textbook Commission — 

Appropriation for Commission 

Duties of Textbook Commission " """"" ^ 2 

Membership of Textbook Commission"- " " " ' 

Appointment of members 

Oath of members '" dS 

Qualifications of members ' " f 6 

Term of Service of Members '■ " If 

Vacancies " — ^" 

Report to School Boards " """ " 96 

Textbooks: ; l01 

Manner of Adoption 

Period of Adoption— New Adoptions " o? 

Publishing Houses to Submit ^ 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. n 



SCHOOL LAWS 

of the 

Territory of Alaska 

ARTICLE I. 

TERRITORIAL BOARD OF EDUCATION 
School System Established. 
Section 1 That a general and uniform system of schools shall 
be maintained throughout the Territory of Alaska, and shall embrace 
common schools, including High, Grammar, Primary and Kinder- 
garten schools, and such other schools as may be hereafter estab- 
lished; Provided, that nothing in this Act shall be construed as 
nnw^ VI aS inc , ludin S sch00ls f °r Alaska Natives which are 
now, and which may nereafter come under the control of the Fed- 
TT r nit^ OV |fT en ^ and be ' administered and supervised through the 
Interior ™ Educati °n of the Department of the 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 137. 
Territorial Board of Education Authorized. 
Section 2. That for the general supervision, government, and 
control of all the Territorial public schools of Alaska, and for the 
general supervision, government and control of any other public 
school, or Territorial Educational Institution, as may now or here- 
after be founded, a Territorial Board of Education is hereby created 
and established to be known as the Territorial Board of Educat'on 
of the Territory of Alaska. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 137. 
Organization. 

Section 3. The Territorial Board of Education shall consist of 
the Governor of the Territory, who shall be ex-officio President, and 
the four senior senators, one from each division of the Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 137. 
Meetings. 

Section 4. It shall hold its regular meetings on the first day 
of May, 1917, and bi-ennially thereafter on the second Monday in 
March m such place at the Capital of the Territory as the president 
may designate. The regular meetings may be adjourned from day 
to day until all business has been disposed of. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 137. 
Rules and Regulations. 

Section 5. It shall have power to make rules and regulations 
for its own government, and for the government of the Commis- 
sioner of Education. It shall assign to the Commissioner of Educa- 
tion his duties, direct him as to his work, and shall be free to 



12 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

change such assignments and directions to meet the necessities of 
the work under his direction. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 138. 

Final Court of Appeals. 

Section 6. It shall constitute a final Court of Appeals, in all 
Educational Controversies, and shall delegate to the Commissioner 
of Education the execution of all policies decided upon. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 138. 

Prepare Budget of Expenses. 

Section 7. It shall prepare a budget of necessary expenses for 
the maintenance of the Public Schools of the Territory, and the 
department of the Board of Education, and shall present the same 
to the legislature at each session. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 139. 

To Require Reports. 

Section 8. It shall require the School Boards to make such 
reports as deemed necessary. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 139. 

Supervise and Audit Expenditures. 

Section 9. It shall direct and supervise the auditing of all 
expenditures of funds and appropriations made for the maintenance 
and the upbuilding of the public schools of the Territory, and shall 
have the direction and control of all Territorial school funds and 
shall make provisions for the payment of all warrants and accounts 
that may be drawn on said fund. 

Laws 1917, Cha#. 64, P. 139. 

To Adopt Seal. 

Section 10. The Board of Education shall adopt an official seal. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 139. 



ARTICLE II. 

COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION: 
Appointment of Commissioner of Education. 
Section 11. The Territorial Board of Education shall have 
power, and it shall be its duty to appoint at .a salary not to exceed 
four thousand dollars ($4,000.00), per annum, a Commissioner of 
Education, and upon recommendation of said Commissioner of Edu- 
cation, may appoint such other specialists, clerks and other executive 
office employees, as in its judgment the execution of the work of 
the Board may demand, and fix the salaries of the same, provided, 
however, that the expenses under this section shall not exceed the 
sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), per annum in addition to 
the salary of the Commissioner of Education. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 138. 

Qualifications of Commissioner of Education — Filling of Vacancy in 

Office. 

Section 12. Said Commissioner of Education shall be chosen 
for a term of two years upon merit, and because of his special 
fitness to propose and execute beneficial educational policies for 
the general supervision, government and control of the public schools 
of the Territory. The Territorial Board of Education shall have 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 



13 



ittrdIm P ^\hl Sm 1 iSS , t w C ° mmiSSi0ner of Education whenever in 
removal! ^ mtereBta ° f the public school s require his 

»»^u aS Jr * vacan °y sh ould arise in the office of Commissioner 
shall hJve tne' T****?* £ otherwise, the president of sSd board 
snail have the power to fill said vacancy by appointment said 
appointee to hold office until the first meeting 7 ,* ?he Board 'there 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 138. 
Commissioner of Education to be Provided With Office. 
^.^f™ l3 \ T ^ Commissioner of Education shall be provided 
with an office by the Territorial Board of Education to be located 
at the capital of the Territory of Alaska, and shall be furnished 
with necessary stationery, fuel, light and other essential things 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 139. 

Execute Policies of Board. 

Section 14. In all Educational matters which involve new 

policies and new methods of procedure, the Commissioner of ml 

cation shall report back to the Board for instructions; but once having 

tn th/p 6n th6Se insti ; uctions ' the execution of them shall be left 
to the Commissioner of Education. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 139. 
Take Oath of Office. 
thP fSVTa?'* The Commissioner. of Education shall be a citizen of 
W? nffSf Sta n S ' and he Sha11 ' b8fore enterin ^ u P° n the duties of 
™ cZtt L f ■♦? ™ is /. 101 ? er of Education, take and subscribe to 
i £ ? *? ? aithfuI1 y discharge the duties of his office, which oath 
shall be filed with the Secretary of the Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 139. 
Furnish a Bond. 

nffl J ec i ion . J 6 - Hs shall > before entering upon the duties of his 
office, furnish a proper bond of some approved surety company 
(such bond and surety or sureties to be subject to the approval of 
the Territorial Board of Education) payable to the Territory of 
Alaska, and conditional upon the faithful performance of his official 
duties as provided by this Act. Said bonds shall be deposited with the 
Secretary of the Territory of Alaska, 

^ The Commissioner shall furnish a new bond whenever required 
by the Board. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 140. 
To Supervise All Public Educational Institutions. 

Section 17. He shall have supervision of all matters pertaining 
to the public schools, and other educational institutions of the Terri- 
tory of Alaska, to include all public schools within incorporated 
towns and all public schools outside the limits of incorporated towns. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 140. 
Travel Outside Territory. 

Section 18. He may travel with the consent of the Board of 
Education without neglecting his official duties as Commissioner of 
Education, for the purpose of study and attending educational meet- 
ings, outside the Territory. Provided, that he shall not absent him- 
self from the Territory for more than ninety (90) days during any 
one year. Provided, further, however, that no expense shall be 



14 SCHOO L LAWS OF ALASKA. 

incurred under this section unless appropriation is previously made 
therefor by the legislature. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 140. 

To Require Reports. 

Section 19. He shall require annually, or at such other times as 
he may determine, of the teacher, President, Superintendent, or 
Principal of all public schools or other education institutions and the 
School Boards of all School Districts receiving Territorial aid, a 
report of such facts, arranged in such form as he may prescribe. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 140. 

Keep Records and Statistics. 

Section 20. He shall keep in his office all records, books and 
papers pertaining to the business of his office, and shall keep and 
preserve in his office a complete record of statistics of all matters 
pertaining to educational interests of the Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 140. 

File Papers, Reports, Etc. 

Section 21. He shall file, all papers, reports and public docu- 
ments transmitted to him by school officers of the several school 
districts of the Territory each year separately. Copies of all papers 
in his office and his official acts may be certified by him and 
attested under the official seal of the Board of Education, and when 
so certified shall be evidence equally and in like manner as the 
original papers. He shall charge for such certified copy 50 cents 
per folio and all moneys so received shall be immediately paid to 
the Territorial Treasurer and accredited to the school fund of the 
Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 04, P. 140. 

Prepare Minimum Course of Study. 

Section 22. He shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, a min 
imum course of study for the public schools of the Territory, and 
such a course be approved by the Board of Education before its 
adoption. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 141. 

Prepare and Publish Bulletins. 
Section 23. He shall, on approval of the Board of Education, 
prepare and publish such bulletins or pamphlets relating to various 
phases of educational work as he may deem necessary for the infor- 
mation and instruction of the citizens of the Territory, and shall 
distribute the same to the various school boards throughout the 
Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 141. 

Prescribe Rules and Regulations. 

Section 24. He shall, with the approval of the Board of Educa- 
tion, prescribe such rules and regulations for the general govern- 
ment of the public schools, as shall be necessary to secure effi 
ciency and promote the true interests of the public schools. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 141. 

Prepare Eighth Grade Examinations, 

Section 25. He shall prepare uniform questions for use in the 
examination of pupils of the Territory, completing the grammar- 
school course of study, and shall prescribe uniform rules and regula- 
tions for the conducting of such examinations; provided, however, 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 15 

that accredited schools may be exempt from such examinations at 
the discretion of the Commissioner of Education. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 141. 

Prescribe Sanitary Regulations. 
Section 26. He shall in conjunction with the Commissioners of 
Health, prescribe such rules and regulations not inconsistent with 
the laws of the Territory as may from time to time in his opinion 
be needed to secure thorough sanitary conditions in the public 
schools throughout the Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 141. 

To Deliver Records, Books, Etc. 

Section 27. He shall deliver to his successor at the expiration 
of his term of office, all records, books, maps, documents and papers, 
of whatever kind belonging to his office, or which may have been 
received by him for the use of his office. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 142. 

Submit Statement of Traveling Expenses. 

Section 28. He shall submit to the President of the Board of 
Education a monthly statement with vouchers attached of his 
expenditures for traveling expenses together with a statement of his 
actual subsistence and other expenditures when away from the 
Capital on work connected with his office, and in the discharge of 
his official duties, Provided, that such actual traveling and subsis- 
tence expenses shall not exceed the amount of Two Thousand Dol- 
lars ($2,000.00) annually, Provided, further, however that no expense 
shall be incurred under this section, unless appropriation is previ- 
ously made therefor by the Legislature. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 142. 

Provide for Teachers' Institute — Examine and Accredit Schools. 

Section 29. The Commissioner of Education may in his discre- 
tion provide for a Teacher's Institute for teachers in each of the 
four Judicial Divisions of Alaska, and approve the programs thereof. 
It shall also be his duty, to examine and accredit the Secondary and 
Elementary or Grammar Schools of the Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 142. 



ARTICLE III. 

CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS. 

Teachers' Certificate Required. 

Section 30. Every person employed as a teacher in the public 
schools in the Territory of Alaska shall first apply for and obtain a 
teacher's certificate, as provided in this Act. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 142. 

Certificates by Endorsement. 
Section 31. — The Commissioner of Education shall have power to 
grant Territorial certificates by endorsements of approved certificates 
issued by any State valid for a period equal to that of the certificate 
presented for endorsement, provided, that such applicant shall pre- 
sent satisfactory evidence that he, or she has been successfully 
engaged in educational work within two years time prior to the 
presentation of such certificate. He shall have power to grant Ter- 



16 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

.ritorial certificates valid for a period of three years by endorsement 
of diplomas issued by Normal Schools, colleges and universities 
of approved standing. All such certificates by endorsement shall be 
renewable on presentment of proof that the holder has been success- 
fully engaged in educational work during one-half the period in which 
the certificate was valid or in force. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 142. 

First, Second and Third Grade Certificates. 

Section 32. He shall have the power to issue first, second and 
third grade Territorial certificates upon examination in such sub- 
jects as the Board of Education may prescribe, Provided, that first 
grade certificates shall be valid for five years, second grade certi- 
ficates for three years and third grade certificates for one year from 
the date of issuance, and Provided, further, that any of the certi- 
ficates mentioned in this section may be renewable upon present- 
ment of evidence that the holder thereof has been successfully 
engaged in educational work during at least one-half of the period 
in which the certificate is valid or in force. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 143. 

Special Certificates. 

Section 33. He shall have power to grant special certificates 
valid for three years to teachers of manual training, domestic 
science, physical education, music, drawing and such other sub- 
jects as may be authorized by the Territorial Board of Education. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 27, P. 68. 

Temporary Certificates. 
Section 34. He may, in case of an emergency, grant a temporary 
certificate valid for one year to a teacher, who, in his opinion is 
entitled to such, and who shall furnish evidence of his, or her, 
qualifications, Provided, that such certificate shall not be renew- 
able. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 143. 

Certificates May Be Revoked. 

Section 35. He shall have the power to revoke for immorality, 
violation of written contract, intemperance, crime against the laws 
of the Territory or any unprofessional conduct, any certificate which 
may have been granted, Provided, that, no certificate shall be revoked 
until the accused has been given an opportunity of being heard. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 143. 

Time and Place of Teachers' Examination. 

Section 36. Examinations for all Territorial certificates shall 
be held at such time as the Commissroner of Education may desig- 
nate. Such examinations may be held in the division where needed, 
and shall be under the charge of the Commissioner of Education, a 
teacher, or other person appointed by him. Said examination shall 
be conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed 
by the Commissioner of Education. The questions used in these 
examinations shall be such only as are sent out by him under the 
seal of the Board of Education. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 143. 

Examination Papers Forwarded to Commissioner of Education. 

Section 37. The examination papers, together with recommenda- 
tions of the examiner in each case shall be forwarded to the Com- 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 17 

missioner of Education, who shall, if he approves the same, issue 
to the applicant a Territorial certificate. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 144. 



ARTICLE IV. 

GENERAL REGULATIONS. 

Partisan, Sectarian or Denominational Doctrines Prohibited. 

Section 38. No books, papers, tracts, or documents of a partisan, 
sectarian or denominational character shall he introduced in any 
public school under the provisions of this law, and any and every, 
partisan, sectarian or denominational doctrines are hereby expressly 
forbidden to be taught therein, and no teacher, or school board 
shall receive any public money for the maintenance of schools, 
which have not been conducted in accordance with the provisions 
of this act. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 144. 

School Year Defined — School Board May Authorize Use of School 

House. 

Section 39. The school year shall begin on the first day of July 
of each year, Provided, that this does not require the school terms 
to begin on this date, but such terms may begin at such times as 
fixed by the school board of the school district. 

The Trustees of any school district shall have the power to 
authorize the use of any school house, or school houses, as a com- 
munity center. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 144, 

School Month Defined. 

Section 40. For purposes of determining the time when com- 
pensation of teachers and other employees of the school district 
is due and of determining when monthly reports to the Commissioner 
of Education shall be submitted, or a school year of any given num- 
ber of months shall end, a school month shall be considered as 
consisting of twenty days or four weeks of five days each. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 27, P. 69. 

School Day Defined. 

Section 41. The school day in every school shall not be less 
than four hours in length for the first and second grades, exclusive 
of intermissions, and five hours for all other grades, exclusive of 
intermissions; Provided, that a shorter day for certain grades may 
be arranged on the approval of the Commissioner of Education. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 27, P. 69. 

School Holidays Defined. 

Section 42. No teacher shall be required to teach school on 
Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day immediately following 
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Years, Memorial Day and the 
Fourth of July, nor shall the monthly salary of any teacher be 
diminished because of fact that these holidays fall on a school day. 
The public schools shall be in session on all other legal holidays 
falling upon school days and shall give appropriate exercises in com- 
memoration of the day; Provided, that the School Board may declare 
a holiday when good reason exists therefor. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 27, P. 69. 



18 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

Annual Reports Required. 

Section 43. No school board shall draw any order or warrant 
for, or pay the salary of any teacher for the last month of his or 
her service until the annual report to the Commissioner of Educa- 
tion shall have been presented for mailing and until all summaries 
and statistics have been entered in the school register and the 
same presented to the school board for approval; Provided, that 
in all schools organized under the direction of a city superintendent 
or principal the report of such superintendent or principal shall be 
accepted by the school board in lieu of the teachers' reports. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 27, P. 68. 

Rules and Regulations Must Be Complied With. 
Section 44. No Territorial moneys shall be paid to any school 
board or to any teacher who fails to comply with the school laws 
of the Territory of Alaska or with the rules and regulations pro- 
mulgated by the Commissioner of Education. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 27, P. 69. 

U. S. Flag Must Be Displayed. 

Section 45. Every school board of the several school districts of the 
Territory shall procure a United States flag and shall display said 
flag upon or near each public school building, during school hours 
and at such other times as they may deem proper. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 27, P. 68. 

Building Plans Must Be Approved. 

Section 46. All building plans for school buildings in all school 
districts shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Education for 
his approval before the erection of the same; Provided, that in 
cases of emergency this requirement may be set aside by the Commis- 
sioner of Education. The location of all school buildings in districts 
outside of incorporated towns shall also, where possible, be approved 
by the Commissioner of Education. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 27, P. 70. 

Fire Drills Required. 

Section 47. — It shall be the duty of the principal, or other per- 
sons, in charge of every public or private school or educational 
institution with the Territory, to instruct and train pupils by means 
of drills, so that they may, in a sudden emergency, be able to leave 
the school building in the shortest possible time without confusion 
or panic. Such drills shall be held at least twice each school month, 
weather permitting. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 27, P. 70. 

School Census To Be Taken. 

Section 48. Every school board in all school districts shall 
annually, during the last week in October, cause to be taken an 
enumeration or census of all bona fide residents of the district, 
between the ages of five and twenty-one years, and shall report the 
same to the Commissioner of Education, said enumeration and report 
to be made on blanks and forms provided by the Commissioner of 
Education. It shall be the duty of all teachers and principals in 
each district to co-operate with the school board in securing and 
compiling the census fact, required. No expenditures of Territorial 
funds by school boards for carrying out the provisions of this sec- 
tion shall be allowed. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 27, P. 70. 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 19 



Elementary and Secondary Schools Defined. 

Section 49. The term secondary schools shall be considered 
as referring to schools doing work in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, as 
distinguished from elementary or grammar schools whose work 
usually covers grades 1 to 8, or from colleges or universities doing 
work above the 12th grade. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 145. 

Accredited Secondary Schools Defined 1 . 

Section 50. Accredited secondary schools shall be considered 
as applying to secondary schools whose work is equal to or above 
a standard set by the Commissioner of Education of the Territory. 
In establishing this standard, the Commissioner of Education shall 
be guided by the practices employed by the University of Washing- 
ton in accrediting the secondary schools of the State of Washington 
or by the requirements of other state universities of equal rank in 
accrediting secondary schools within the state in which they are 
situated. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 145. 

Elementary Accredited Schools Defined, 

Section 51. Accredited elementary or grammar schools shall be 
considered as applying to elementary or grammar schools whose 
work is equal to or above a standard set by the Commissioner of 
Education of the Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 64, P. 145. 

Instruction Regarding Alcoholic Drinks and Narcotics Required. 

Section 52. The nature of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, and 
special instruction as to their effects upon the human system, in 
connection with the several divisions of the subject of physiology 
and hygiene, shall be included in the branches of study taught in 
the common or public schools, and in the military and naval schools, 
and shall be studied and taught as thoroughly and in the same man- 
ner as other like required branches are in said schools, by the 
use of textbooks in the hands of pupils where other branches are 
thus studied in said schools, and by all pupils in all said schools 
throughout the Territories, in the Military and Naval Academies of 
the United States, and in the District of Columbia, and in all 
Indian and colored schools in the Territories of the United States. 

Compiled Laws 1913, Title 9, Chap. 1, P. 228. 

School Officers or Teachers May Be Removed. 

Section 53. That it shall be the duty of the proper officers in 
control of any school described in the foregoing section to enforce 
the provisions of this act; and any such officer, school director, 
committee, superintendent, or teacher who shall refuse or neglect to 
comply with the requirements of this act, or shall neglect or fail 
to make proper provisions for the instruction required, and in the 
manner specified by the first section of this act, for all pupils in 
each and every school under his jurisdiction, shall be removed from 
office, and the vacancy filled as in other cases. 

Compiled Laws 1913, Title 9, Chap. 1, P. 229. 

Examination Regarding Effects of Alcoholic Drinks and Narcotics 

Required. 
Section 54. That no certificate shall be granted to any person 
to teach in the public schools of the District of Columbia or Ter- 
ritories after the first (".ay of January, Anno Domini Eighteen Hun- 



20 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 



dred and Eighty-eight, who has not passed a satisfactory examina- 
tion in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the nataio 
and the effects of alcoholic drinks and other narcotics upon the 

human system. 

Compiled Laws 1913, Title 9, Chap. 1, P. 229. 



ARTICLE V. 

SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN INCORPORATED TOWNS. 

Common Council to Establish Districts — Election, Term of Service, 
Duties, Etc., of School Board. 

Section 55. — The common council of incorporated towns shall 
have and exercise the following power: 

To establish school districts, to provide the same with suitable 
schoolhouses, and to maintain public schools therein and to provide 
the necessary funds for the schools; but such schools when estab- 
lished shall be under the supervision and control of a school board 
of three members, consisting of a director, a treasurer, and a clerk, 
to be elected annually by the vote of all adults who are 
citizens of the United States or who have declared their intention to 
become such and who are residents of the school district. The 
members of said board first elected shall hold their offices for the 
term of one, two and three years, respectively, and until their suc- 
cessors are elected and qualified, and one member of such board 
shall be elected each year thereafter and shall hold his office for 
a period of three years and until his successor is elected and 
qualified; and they shall each, before entering upon the duties of 
their office, take an oath in writing to honestly and faithfully dis- 
charge the duties of their trust. In case a vacancy in the member- 
ship of said board occurs from death, resignation, removal, or other 
cause, such vacancy may be filled by special election, upon ten days' 
notice, called by the remaining members of the board upon the 
petition of five qualified voters. All money available for school 
purposes, except for the construction and equipment ,of school houses 
and the acquisition of sites for the same, shall be expended under 
the direction of said board, and the treasurer of said board shall 
be the custodian of said money, and he shall, before entering upon 
the duties of his office, give his bond, with sufficient sureties, to 
the school district, in such sum as the common council may direct, 
and subject to its approval, but not less than twice the amount that 
may come into his hands as treasurer, conditioned that he will 
honestly and faithfully disburse and account for all money that 
may come into his hands as such treasurer. The said board shall 
have the power to hire and employ the necessary teachers, to pro- 
vide for heating and lighting the schoolhouse and in general to do 
and perform everything necessary for the due maintenance of a 
proper school. 

Complied Laws 1913, Title 12, Chap. 21. P. 319. 

Common Council May Levy Tax for School Purposes. 

Section 56. The power granted to the common council of muni- 
cipal corporations in the Territory of Alaska, to assess, levy and 
collect a general tax for school and municipal purposes, by subdi- 
vision ninth, of section 4 of the Act of Congress of the United States 
entitled "An Act to amend and codify the laws relating to muni- 
cipal corporations in the District of Alaska," approved April 28, 1904, 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 21 

shall toe exercised by means of general ordinances duly passed by 
the common councils of such corporations, provided that the rate 
of levy and the date of equalization and date when taxes shall be- 
come delinquent may be fixed by resolution, and the levy for school 
and municipal purposes may be separately made and fixed, but the 
aggregate thereof shall not exceed two per cent, of the assessed value 

of the property assessed. 

Laws 1913, Chap. 69, P. 257. 



ARTICLE VI. 

INCORPORATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 

Incorporated School Districts — Communities May Become. 
Section 57. Any town, village or settlement in the Territory 
of Alaska outside the limits of any incorporated town, having a 
population of one hundred or more and thirty children between 
the ages of six and twenty years, may incorporate as a school dis- 
trict in the manner hereinafter provided, but such school district 
shall not embrace more than forty (40) square miles of Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 5. 

a Organization of School Board. 

Section 5$ Each school district organized under the provis- 
ions of this chapter shall have a board of directors of five mem- 
bers to be elected as hereinafter provided, who shall have the 
exclusive management and control of all school matters in the 
school district subject to such general laws governing the grading 
and superintendency of schools as may be now or hereafter en- 
acted by the Territorial Legislature. Said board of directors 
shall have the power, and it shall be their duty to select from 
their number, a clerk, treasurer, assessor, who shall also act as 
tax collector, and two directors, all of whom shall qualify by 
taking an oath in writing to honestly and faithfully discharge 

the duties of their offices. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 5. 

School Board May Levy Tax. 

Section 59. That said boards of directors shall have the power 
to levy and collect taxes upon all real and personal property 
within the limits of their respective districts not exempt there- 
from by existing law, not to exceed one per cent (1 per cent) of 
the assessed value of such property in any one year and all monies 
collected by such taxation shall be expended in payment of the 
cost of levying and collecting such taxes; in payment of the cost 
of conducting school elections; and for the construction and main- 
tenance of schools only. All taxes levied and assessed shall be 
in conformity to a resolution adopted by the majority of the whole 
board of directors and entered on the minutes of the board at a 
meeting of the board called for that purpose, of which meeting 
at least ten days notice shall be given by posting notice of such 
meeting in at least three public places in the district. Said 
boards are hereby empowered to prescribe rules for the annual 
assessment and levy of such taxes and by such rules to fix the 
dates when such assessment shall be annually made; the mode 
and manner of assessment; when the taxes may become due; to 
require the listing of property subject to taxation by the owner 
or agent thereof; to impose, fix and provide for collection of 



22 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

penalties for non-payment of taxes when due, not to exceed 15 
per cent of such taxes and to fix the rate of interest on delin- 
quent taxes not to exceed 12 per cent per annum, and to provide 
for the collection of such interest, and to provide generally such 
other matters and things relative to the assessment and levy of 
such taxes as may be proper. 

Provided, however, all assessments shall be equal and uniform 
and based upon the actual cash value of the property assessed, 
and prior to fixing the rates of levy, said board shall sit and 
publicly equalize the* valuation of the property assessed. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 5. 

Taxes a Lien on Property. 

Section 60. All taxes levied and assessed by the board of school 
directors under this act shall be a lien upon the property assessed 
and such lien shall be prior and paramount to all other liens and 
encumbrances, and may be foreclosed by an appropriate action in 
any court of competent jurisdiction. 

The owner of property assessed shall be personally liable for 
the amount of taxes assessed against such property and such 
taxes, together with penalties and interest, may be collected after 
the same become due, in a personal action brought in the name 
of the school district against such owner in any court of compe- 
tent jurisdiction. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 6. 

School Boards Same Power as Common Councils. 

Section 61. That in addition to the remedies given by the 
last section, the school board shall have the same power to levy 
and collect taxes and to enforce the lien against personal or real 
property as is now by law granted or may hereafter be granted 
to the common council of municipal corporations and in such 
proceedings the board of directors shall have the same power as 
common council of a municipal corporation, and the clerk of the 
school board shall have the same power and duties as the clerk 
of an incorporated town. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 7. 

Treasurer and Assessor to Give Bond. 

Section 62. The treasurer and assessor of the school board 
shall give such bond with such sureties as the board of directors 
may require. Said bonds to be conditioned for the honest and 
faithful disbursing and accounting of all monies that may come 
into the hands of such officers by virtue of their offices. The 
treasurer of the board shall be the custodian of all funds belonging 
to the school district. The board of directors shall have the 
power to fix the compensation of the treasurer and assessor which 
shall be paid from the funds belonging to the school district. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 7. 

Manner of Incorporation. 

Section 63. The manner of incorporation of school districts 
shall be as follows: 

A petition praying for such incorporation shall first be pre- 
sented to the Judge of the United States District Court of the 
Judicial Division in which the proposed school district is located. 
Such petition must be signed by at least fifty citizens of the 
United States, or persons who have declared their intention to 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 23 

become such, over the age of twenty-one years, who are residents 
of the proposed school district, and shall specify as nearly as may 
be, the location, boundaries and number of inhabitants of the 
proposed school district, and specify the name or number by which 
it is to be known. 

The judge of the district court, upon presentation and filing 
of such petition shall order an election in said proposed district 
for the purpose of determining whether the people of the com- 
munity desire such incorporation, and shall, by said order, desig- 
nate the date of such election and appoint three qualified voters 
in the proposed school district to arrange for, supervise and 
appoint judges and election officers for such election. A printed 
or typewritten copy of said order shall be posted at three public 
places within the limits of the proposed school district for at 
least thirty (30) days prior to the day of election and such post- 
ing shall be sufficient notice of such election. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 7. 

Qualifications of Electors. 

Section 64. The qualification of electors at said or any sub- 
sequent school district election shall be the same as those pre- 
scribed in Section 5 of the Organic Act of the Territory of Alaska. 
The persons appointed to conduct said first election shall provide 
a form of printed or written ballots suitable for determining the 
question whether the voter is in favor of, or against the incor- 
poration of the district, and for the election of five directors who 
must be qualified electors of the school district and whose term 
of office shall be as hereinafter prescribed. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 8. 

Duties of Judges of Election. 

Section 65. The judges of election shall, before entering upon 
the duties of their offices, take an oath in writing to faithfully 
and impartially discharge the duties of their trust and they shall 
duly canvass and compile the votes cast and issue under their 
hands and seals a certificate in triplicate showing the number 
of votes cast in favor of incorporation and the number of votes 
cast against incorporation. One of said triplicate certificates, 
together with all ballots and oaths of the judges of election, 
shall immediately be filed with the clerk of the district court 
in which the community proposed to be incorporated is situate. 
Another of said certificates shall be filed with the Secretary of 
the Territory of Alaska, and the third of said certificates shall 
be filed with the commissioner of the recording district in which 
said school district is located. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 8. 

Order Establishing District. 

Section 66. If a majority of the votes cast at said election are 
in favor of incorporation, the district judge shall, by an order 
in writing entered in the records of the court, adjudge and de- 
clare that the community in which such election has been held, 
is a school district corporation, and the same shall thenceforth 
exercise the powers hereinbefore and hereinafter designated, and 
such other powers as may be granted by law. Said order shall 
designate the school district by name or number and may correct 
or more definitely describe its boundaries. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 9. 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 



Judges of Election Citizens — Canvass Vote. 
Section 67. The said judges of election shall be citizens of the 
United States and shall also canvass the vote cast at said election 
for members of the board of school directors and in case the ma- 
jority of the votes cast in the community where such election 
is held have voted for incorporation, the judges shall declare 
the five candidates who have received the greatest- number of 
votes for such office, duly elected and shall issue and deliver to 
them certificates of their election. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 9. 

Board Members Citizens. 

Section 68. The directors chosen at said election as well as 
those chosen at subsequent elections shall be citizens of the 
United States, and before entering upon the duties of their offices, 
severally take an oath in writing as prescribed in Section 2 of 
this act, which oath shall be filed with the clerk of the school 
board. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 9. 

Board of Directors in Two Classes. 

Section 69. Immediately after qualifying as aforesaid, the said 
board of directors shall assemble and by lot or drawing be divided 
into two classes. The first class shall be composed of two of said 
directors and the second class of three of said directors. The 
directors of the first class shall hold office until the first Tuesday 
in April of the following 1 year at which time an election shall be 
held to choose their successors. The directors of the second class 
shall hold office until the first Tuesday in April of the second 
year following their election, at which time an election shall be 
held to choose their successors, and all directors, except those 
chosen at the election held for the purpose of incorporating the 
school district, shall hold office for the term of two years and 
until their successors are elected and qualified, for which purpose, 
an election shall be held annually on the first Tuesday of April 
of each year. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 9. 

Filling of Vacancies in Board. 

Section 70. In case a vacancy in the membership of said 
board occurs from death, resignation, removal or other cause, such 
vacancy may be filled by special election upon ten days notice, 
called by the remaining members of the board upon the petition 
of five qualified voters. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 10. 

Board to Prescribe Rules. 
Section 71. The board of directors shall have the power and 
it shall be their duty to prescribe rules for the conduct of the 
election hereinbefore authorized, to give notice of election, desig- 
nate and provide polling places, appoint judges of election and 
attend to all matters pertaining to such election. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 10. 

Community Consents to Taxation — Clerk Keeps Record Money. 

Section 72. Any community incorporated in accordance with 

the provisions of this act, shall be deemed to have consented to 

the imposition of such taxes as are authorized by and may be 

imposed under its provisions for school purposes. The clerk of 

% 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 25 



the school board in each district shall keep a record of all monies 
collected and distributed and shall annually transmit to the Sec- 
retary of the Territory a verified statement showing such receipts 
and disbursements, which statement shall be kept on file in the 
ottice of the Secretary of the Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 5, P. 10. 

ARTICLE VII. 

SCHOOL DISTRICTS OUTSIDE INCORPORATED TOWNS. 
Clerk of Court to Establish. 

Section 73. The clerk of the district court shall have the 
poAver, and it shall be his duty, in the division to which he is 
appointed and in which he resides, upon petition as hereinafter 
specified, to establish by order in writing a school district at any 
village, or settlement outside of the limits of any incorporated 
town, but such school district shall not embrace more than forty 
square miles of ierritory, nor contain less than ten resident white 
children, or children of the mixed blood who lead a civilized life 
between the ages of six and seventeen years. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 49. 

Petition — Its Contents. 

Section 74. The said petition shall specify, as near as may 
be, the location and boundary of the proposed school district, the 
number of people, the number of families, and the number of chil- 
dren between the ages of six and seventeen years resident therein 
and such other material facts as tend to show the necessity for 
the establishment of the school district. Said petition shall be 
signed by not less than eight persons of adult age who are citi- 
zens of the United States, or who have declared their intention 
to become such and who reside within the boundaries of the pro- 
posed school district. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 49. 
First Election of School Board. 

Section 75. If the clerk of the court is satisfied that it is 
necessary and proper to grant such petition, he shall make an 
order in writing establishing the school district prayed for de- 
scribing the same, and defining its boundaries, and he shall' also 
in said order appoint three of the petitioners to supervise and 
give notice of the first election, and shall specify the time and 
place of the same. The original order shall remain on file in 
the records of the court, and a copy of the same shall be posted 
at three public places in the school district at least ten days 
before the election, and such posting shall be deemed a sufficient 
notice of said election. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 49. 
Qualifications of Electors— Vacancies on Board. 
Section 76. All persons qualified to sign said petition shall 
be qualified to vote at said election. The qualified voters of said 
school district shall at said election choose by a plurality vote a 
school board of three members, consisting of a clerk, a treasurer 
and a director, who shall, before entering upon the duties of their 
trust, each take an oath in writing to honorably and faithfully 
discharge the duties of their office. In case a vacancy in the 



26 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

membership of said board occurs from death, resignation, removal, 
or other cause, such vacancy may be filled by a special election, 
upon ten days' notice, called by the remaining members of the 
board, upon the petition of five qualified voters. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 50. 

Treasurer to Give Bond. 

Section 77. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the mon- 
eys of the school district and he shall before entering upon the 
duties of his office, give his bond to the school district, with 
sufficient sureties, to be approved by the clerk of the court, and 
in such sum as he may direct, but not less than twice the amount 
of money that may come into his hands as treasurer, conditioned 
that he, the treasurer, will honestly and faithfully disburse and 
account for all the money that may come into his hands by virtue 
of his office. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 50. 

Powers of Board. 
Section 78. Said board shall have the power to build or rent 
the necessary school house or school rooms, to equip the same with 
the necessary furniture and fixtures, to provide fuel and light, to 
hire and employ teachers, and in general to do and perform every- 
thing that may be necessary for the maintenance of the public 
school. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 50. 

Term of Service of Board. 

Section 79. The members of said board shall hold office for 
the term of one year and until their successors are elected and 
qualified. An annual election shall be held each year, after the 
first election, for the election of members of said board. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 51. 
Duties of Board on Election. 

Section 80. As soon as the members of said school board have 
been elected and qualified, they shall send to the clerk of the 
court and file in his office a certificate of their election under the 
hand and seal of the judges or supervisors of election, their oaths 
of office, and the bond of the treasurer, and the clerk of the court 
shall file said papers and carefully keep them as a part of the 
files and records of this office, and he shall at once send to the 
Commissioner of Education of the Territory of Alaska a certified 
copy of said papers, together with a certified copy of the order 
establishing the school district, and the Commissioner of Education 
shall duly file and preserve the same as records of the Territorial 
Board of Education. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 51. 

Board to Report to Commissioner of Education. 
Section 81. — The said board, as soon as they have complied 
with the requirements aforesaid, shall immediately report in writ- 
ing to the Commissioner of Education, the number of children 
in their school district between the ages of six and seventeen years, 
that intend to attend a public school, and the wages per month 
for which a teacher can be obtained; and after a school has been 
opened and maintained they shall, at the end of each school term, 
report to the Commissioner of Education, in writing, the length 
of the term, the wages paid the teacher, the total number of pu- 
pils in attendance, and the daily average of such attendance at 



SCHOOL. DAWS OF ALASKA. 27 



such term, and shall make such other reports as the Territorial 
Board of Education, or the Commissioner of Education may require. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 51. 

Commissioner of Education to Assign Funds. 

Section 82. Where necessary, the Commissioner of Education, 
with the approval of the Governor, as chairman of the Territorial 
Board of Education, may assign and set apart to each school dis- 
trict established and organized under the provisions of this act, 
a sum, not less than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00), nor more 
than Eighteen Hundred Dollars, ($1,800.00), for the construction 
and equipment of a school house, which sum shall be paid from 
the Territorial Treasury to the Treasurer of the school district, 
upon the order and voucher of the Governor, as chairman of the 
Board of Education, out of an appropriation set apart for the 
establishment and maintenance of public schools. The residue of 
said appropriation, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall 
by the Commissioner of Education, with the approval of the 
Governor, as chairman of the Territorial Board of Education, be 
apportioned among the several school districts established under 
the provisions of this act, in amounts sufficient for each district, 
to pay the wages of a teacher, together with the expenses of fuel 
and light for not more than nine school months in any one year. And 
the amount so apportioned to each school district shall be paid to 
the Treasurer of the district from the Territorial Treasury upon 
the order and voucher of the Governor, as chairman of the Board 
of Education, as other Territorial expenses are paid. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 51. 

Laws to Which Schools Subject. 

Section 83. Schools established under this act shall be sub- 
ject to all of the provisions of Chapter 64, Session Laws of 1917, 
being "An Act to Establish a uniform school system in the Terri- 
tory of Alaska," and shall be under the supervision, government 
and control of the Territorial Board of Education. 

And all schools established under the provisions of Chapter 
59, Session Daws of 1915, or under the provisions of Chapter 22, 
Session Daws of 1917, which are now, or may hereafter receive 
aid from Territorial funds, shall be subject to the provisions of 
this Act and to the provisions of said Chapter 64, Session Laws 
of 1917. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 52. 

Limitation of Use of Appropriations. 
Section 84. Except with the consent of the Territorial Board 
of Education, no part of the appropriation for the support of 
schools outside of incorporated towns, and outside of incorporated 
school districts shall be used for the support of a school in an in- 
corporated city or town, of the first or second class; nor for the 
support of a school in an incorporated school district; nor for the 
support of a school in an unincorporated school district, which 
has a population of more than one hundred and contains more than 
thirty school children between the ages of six and twenty years, 
but such unincorporated school district may incorporate under the 
provisions of Chapter 5, Session Laws of 1917, and shall then be 
entitled to receive support from the appropriation for the support 
of schools in incorporated towns, and in incorporated school dis- 
tricts. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 18, P. 53. 



28 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

CITIZENSHIP NIGHT SCHOOLS. 

School Boards May Establish 
Section 85. Every school board in the Territory of Alaska shall 
have the power to establish in their respective districts, a Citizen- 
ship Night School for adults and minors over sixteen years of age. 
The said Citizenship Night School shall be under the direction 
and control of said school board, subject to such regulations as 
may be set forth hereinafter and to such further regulations as 
the Commissioner of Education may, with the approval of the 
Territorial Board of Education, prescribe for its general govern- 
ment and control. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 25, P. 65. 

Report to Commissioner of Education. 

Section 86. School boards in establishing Citizenship Night 
Schools shall report to the Commissioner of Education the number 
or prospective students in such proposed school, the subjects in 
which instruction is to be given and the prospective number of 
students who will enroll for each subject, the number of weeks 
in the school term, the number of sessions per week, the number 
of teachers to be employed and such other material facts as tend 
to show the necessity for the establishment of a Citizenship Night 
School. They shall also present a detailed estimate of the pro- 
posed expenditures for the maintenance of such school. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 25, P. 65. 

Sessions and Attendance. 

Section 87. Citizenship Night Schools shall be conducted for 
not less than two, nor more than five nights each week and 
for not more than twenty— four (24) weeks in one school year. 
No Citizenship Night School shall be established unless at least 
twelve (12) students shall enroll, nor shall any such school be 
continued without special permission from the Commissioner of 
Education should the average attendance for one month be less 
than eight students per session. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 25, P. 65. 

Course of Instruction. 

Section 88. All instruction in Citizenship Night Schools shall 
be in the English language. At each session, instruction must 
be given in English, United States history, and the Government 
of the United States or of the Territory of Alaska. Instruction 
may be given in other subjects approved by the Commissioner of 
Education, or lectures not of a partisan or sectarian nature, may 
be delivered before the student body, having in view at all times, 
a higher standard of citizenship, and a better understanding of the 
American form of government, and of the obligations and privi- 
leges of American citizenship. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 25, P. 66. 

Textbooks — Sectarianism, Etc., Prohibited. 
Section 89. The Commissioner of Education shall recommend 
the textbooks to be used in the various subjects taught in Citi- 
zenship Night Schools, and where practicable such books shall 
be used. No books, papers, tracts, or documents of a partisan, 
sectarian, or denominational character shall be introduced in any 



SCHOOL LAWS OP ALASKA. 29 

Citizenship Night School organized under the provisions of this 
Act, and any and every partisan, sectarian, or denominational 
doctrine is hereby expressly forbidden to be taught therein. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 25, P. 66. 

Instructors — Compensation of Instructors. 

Section 90. The school board shall appoint competent persons 
as instructors in Citizenship Night Schools, having in mind at all 
times the fact that the school is maintained for the good of the 
students who may attend and not to afford employment to any 
particular person. An instructor in a Citizenship Night School 
shall receive from Territorial funds, for each night's instruction 
of at least two hours, compensation not to exceed four dollars 
($4.00) for each night. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 25, P. 66. 

School Board to Report Expenditures. 

Section 91. The school board in each school district maintain- 
ing a Citizenship Night School shall, at the expiration of every 
four weeks after the beginning of school prepare in duplicate an 
accurate detailed account of the expense of maintenance of said 
school for such four-week period. Said itemized account show 
all indebtedness incurred, for what purpose; and shall state the 
name and post-office address of the person to whom money shall 
be paid. The original and duplicate of such account shall be 
forwarded to the Commissioner of Education who shall approve 
such parts as come within the purview of this Act, and who shall 
then transmit the same to be paid by the proper authority. War- 
rants drawn on the Territorial Treasurer shall be payable to the 
persons named in the account, and forwarded direct to the post- 
office address given. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 25, P. 66. 

Apportionment of Funds. 

Section 92. The Commissioner of Education shall designate 
the amount of money from Territorial funds that shall be appor- 
tioned to each school board establishing such Citizenship Night 
School. All Territorial moneys for carrying out the provisions 
of this act shall be drawn from appropriations provided for that 
purpose by the Territorial Legislature and no school board shall 
be allowed more than is apportioned to it by the Commissioner 
of Education. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 25, P. 67. 



ARTICLE IX. 

NORMAL HIGH SCHOOLS. 

Normal High Schools Authorized — Length of Course. 

Section 93. That school boards in incorporated towns, cities 
or districts maintaining a four year accredited high school are 
hereby authorized to establish and maintain a normal school or 
teacher's training course in connection therewith under condi- 
tions as outlined in this act. Such teacher's training course shall 
be two years in length and shall begin with the twelfth grade 
or fourth year of the high school and shall continue through the 
same and through a fifth or additional year of high school work. 



30 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

High schools in which such teacher's training course are main- 
tained shall be known as "normal high schools." 

Laws 1919, Chap. 9, P. 11. 

Authorized by Commissioner of Education. 

Section 94. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Edu- 
cation to authorize the establishment of teacher's training courses 
in accredited high schools making application for the same and 
no school board shall be entitled to Territorial funds for the main- 
tenance of such teacher's training courses unless the same shall 
have been established by authority of the Commissioner of Edu- 
cation and conducted in accord with such rules and regulations 
as he may promulgate with the approval of the Territorial Board of 
Education. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 9, P. 11. 

Course of Study, Instructors, Examinations, Etc. 

Section 95. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Edu- 
cation to outline the minimum course of study for each of the 
two years of the teacher's training course in "normal high schools," 
to choose the textbooks which shall be used in the same, to 
specify the minimum qualifications of instructors, to prepare or 
cause to be prepared questions for use in the examination of stu- 
dents taking the teacher's training course, and to prescribe rules 
and regulations for the conduct of such examinations and for the 
general conduct of said teacher's training course in normal high 

schools. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 9, P. 12. 



ARTICLE X. 

TEXTBOOK COMMISSION. 

Membership, Appointment, Qualifications, Term; of Service, Oath, 
Etc., of Members of Textbook Commission. 

Section 96. That a textbook commission consisting of the 
Commissioner of Education as ex-officio chairman, and two le- 
gally qualified teachers of Alaska to be appointed by him with 
the advice and consent of the Governor, as President of the Ter- 
ritorial Board of Education, is hereby created. Said textbook 
commission shall serve for a period of four years and until their 
successors are appointed and qualified. Vacancies in the mem- 
bership of the commission caused by resignation, withdrawal from 
the Territory or from other causes shall be filled in the same 
manner as in the case of the original appointees, the newly ap- 
pointed members to serve until the completion of the four year 
period. Members of the commission shall, before entering upon 
the duties of their office, take an oath before some person au- 
thorized to administer the same, to faithfully discharge all the 
duties imposed upon them as members of the textbook commission, 
and that they have no interest directly or indirectly in any adop- 
tion that may be made and will receive no personal benefit there- 
from, and that they will examine all books submitted carefully 
and faithfully, and said oath shall be filed with the Secretary of 
the Territory. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 10, P. 12. 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 31 

; Duties of Textbook Commission. 

Section 97. It shall be the duty of the textbook commission 
to select and adopt a uniform set of textbooks for use in all the 
branches of study presented in the elementary schools of the 
Territory, and to select and adopt anapproved list of textbooks 
for use in each of the subjects presented in the high schools of 
the Territory. None of the books so selected and adopted shall 
contain anything of a partisan or sectarian character. After Sep- 
tember 1, 1921, it shall be unlawful for any school to use text- 
books other than those adopted by the textbook commission ex- 
cept for purposes of supplementary study; Provided, that where 
it is impossible for any school to secure the approved textbooks, 
others may be substituted on approval of the Commissioner of 
Education. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 10, P. 13. 

Period of Adoption — New Adoptions. 
Section 98. All textbook adoptions shall be made for a period 
of four years. A majority vote of the members of the commission 
shall he necessary for the adoption of any book. After the first 
adoption has been made, no more than one third of the original 
list of books shall be changed during any one year. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 10, P. 13. 

Publishing Houses to Submit Textbooks. 
Section 99. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Edu- 
cation to send the names of the members of the textbook commis- 
sion to the various school textbook publishing houses, and to re- 
quest that sample copies of such books as they may see fit to 
present be forwarded to them, together with the introductory and 
exchange prices of the same. In making his or her selection of 
books each member of the commission shall take into consideration 
the merits of each book in subject matter, mechanical qualities, 
price, and general suitability for the purposes intended. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 10, P. 13. 

Manner of Adoption. 
Section 100. It shall be the duty of each appointive member 
of the textbook commission to forward to the Commissioner of 
Education, within a reasonable time after appointment, his or her 
first and second choice of textbooks for use in the elementary 
schools, and a list of textbooks approved for high schol use. 
These lists, together with that prepared by the Commissioner of 
Education, shall be used by him in determining the result of the 
vote, and it shall be his duty, in case there is no -clear majority 
in favor of any particular textbook in a certain subject, to se- 
cure a further expression from the various members of the Com- 
mission until a majority have expressed themselves as favoring 
the adoption of the textbook in question. The Commissioner of 
Education shall keep a record of all proceedings, votes and actions 
of the commission, and shall report to each member of the commis- 
sion the choice of each other member at the time a vote on the 
textbook for use in any particular subject is taken. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 10, p. 14. 

Report to School Boards. 
Section 101. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Edu- 
cation to forward to each school board in the Territory a report 



32 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

of the textbooks adopted for use in the elementary and high schools, 
together with the names of the publishers and the introductory 
retail price and exchange price of the same. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 10, p. 14. 

Appropriation for Commission. 
Section 102. There is hereby appropriated from the general 
fund of the Territory the sum of $250.00 to be expended under 
the direction of the Territorial Board of Education for the pur- 
pose of carrying out the provisions of this Act. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 10, p. 14. 



ARTICLE XI. 

COMPULSORY EDUCATION. 

Provisions as to School Attendance. 
Section 103. That every parent, guardian, or other^erson hav- 
ing possession or control of any white child or child of mixed blood 
living a civilized life in the Territory of Alaska, between the 
ages of eight and sixteen years, residing within two miles of any 
school outside of an incorporated town where a school in which 
such child is entitled to admission is maintained, or within the 
limits of an incorporated town, where a school to which such 
child is entitled to admission is maintained, shall cause such child 
regularly to attend school during the entire school year, unless 
the physical or mental condition of such child is such as to render 
such attendance inexpedient or impracticable, or such child has 
been excused for other cause by an excuse in writing signed by 
the majority of the school board. Provided, That any child who 
has completed a course of study equal to that covered by the 
public schools of the Territory shall not be required to attend 
school. 

Laws 1913, Chap. 44, P. 80. 

Penalty for Violation. 

Section 104. That every parent, guardian, or other person 
having possession or control of any white child or child of mixed 
blood living a civilized life, as hereinbefore described, who shall, 
without legal excuse, permit such child to be absent from school 
for a total of five days on which sessions are held during any one 
school quarter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and be 
punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty 
dollars and the cost of the prosecution, and shall be imprisoned 
in the Federal jail until such fine and costs are paid; Provided, 
That such person so convicted shall be imprisoned one day for 
every two dollars of such fine and costs; and each absence of five 
days shall constitute a separate offense; Provided further, that 
the court may suspend sentence, stay or postpone the enforcement 
of execution, or release from custody any person found guilty in 
any case under this act upon such condition as shall seem to be 
to the best interests of the child and fair under the circumstances, 
but no sentence shall be suspended or final judgment or execution 
stayed in the case of any person found guilty under this act for 
a period to exceed the end of the school year during which such person 
is convicted. If at any time prior therto it shall appear to the 
satisfaction of the court that such person has complied faithfully 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 33 

with the condition of any suspended sentence, judgment or exe- 
cution, or is for any cause in the opinion of the court, entitled 
to be released therefrom, the court may suspend such sentence in- 
definitely, in which case such person shall be released and dis- 
charged, as he shall be in any event at the expiration of the 
school year from the imposition of any such fine. 

Laws 1913, Chap. 44, P. 81. 

Duties of Principal and School Boards. 

Section 105. It shall be the duty of the principals of the 
schools hereinbefore described nearest the place at which offending 
parent, guardian, or other person resides to report each case and 
violation of this act to the school board, and such board shall, if it 
sees fit to, lay the case before the United States Commissioner in 
whose precinct such school is situated, and the said United States 
Commissioner shall thereupon issue a warrant for the arrest of the 
said delinquent and have power and jurisdiction to act upon the 
complaint of the school board, and take such action or impose such 
fine, under this act, as the circumstances justify. 

Laws 1913, Chap. 44, P. 82. 



ARTICLE XIL 

TERRITORIAL REFUND— SCHOOLS IN INCORPORATED TOWNS 
AND DISTRICTS, 

Refund for Elementary Schools, High Schools, and Normal High 

Schools. 

Sectin 108. That seventy-five per cent, of the total amount 
expended for the maintenance of the public elementary schools 
and high schools, including normal high schools, within the limits 
of any incorporated town, city or incorporated school district, now 
existing or hereafter established, for the school years ending June 
30, 1920 and 1921, shall be refunded to the school fund of said 
incorporated town, city or incorporated school district from the 
moneys of the Territory of Alaska, as hereinafter set forth; Pro- 
vided, that no expense incurred for the construction of new build- 
ings, purchasing building sites, or other real estate, shall be con- 
sidered expenses of maintenance within the meaning of this act, 
and not more than ten per cent. (10 per cent.) of the total amount 
of the expenses of maintenance shall consist of expenses incurred 
for repairs, alterations or other improvements on buildings or 
other real estate; Provided, further, that no incorporated town, 
city or incorporated school district, shall receive more than Fif- 
teen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) from the Territory of Alaska 
under the provisions of this act, during any one school year of 
not less than nine (9) school months, unless such incorporated 
town, city or incorporated school district shall maintain a normal 
high school, when the annual refund shall not exceed the sum of 
Sixteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($16,500.00). 

Laws 1919, Chap. 28, P. 71. 

Improvements Not Restricted. 

Section 107. Nothing in this act shall be construed to pre- 
vent an incorporated town, city or incorporated school district 
from expending an amount in excess of ten per cent. (10 per cent.) 
of the expense of maintenance within the meaning of this act 



34 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

for repairs, alterations or other improvements of buildings or 
other real estate. However, such additional expenses shall not be 
considered within the provisions of this act. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 28, P. 72. 

Estimates of Expenditures 
Section 108. The school board of each incorporated town, city 
or incorporated school district shall annually before the first day 
of July submit to the Commissioner of Education a detailed state- 
ment of proposed expenditures for the maintenance of the schools 
of such incorporated town, city or incorporated school district dur- 
ing the following school year. Said detailed statement shall be 
submitted in duplicate and shall set forth the salaries of teachers 
in each grade and of janitors or other employees of the school 
district, and proposed expenditures for fuel, light, water, school 
books and supplies, janitor's supplies, manual training, domestic 
science, library, repairs and for miscellaneous purposes. The 
Commissioner of Education shall approve for Territorial refund 
such parts of the proposed expenditures as come within the pur- 
view of this act, or as seem to be reasonable and necessary, and 
shall return the duplicate copy of the said detailed statement to 
the school board submitting the same. No refund of Territorial 
moneys shall be made to any school board for expenditures not 
previously approved by the Commissioner of Education; Provided, 
that items which it is not possible to include in the annual budget 
of expenditures may be submitted at a later date. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 28, P. 72. 

Restriction of Expenditures 
Section 109. No expenditures for the following purposes shall 
be considered as expenditures for maintenance within the mean- 
ing of this act: 

(a) Levying and collecting taxes. 

(b) Conducting regular or special school elections. 

(c) Providing or furnishing living quarters for teachers and 
janitors. 

(d) Taxes paid upon real estate used by the schools. 

(e) Prizes given to pupils. 

(f) Other expenditures which the Territorial Board of Edu- 
cation may, by regulation, class as not being proper expenditures 
for maintenance. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 28, P. 73. 

Quarterly Reports 
Section 110. The school board of each incorporated town, 
city, or incorporated school district, shall, at the expiration of 
every three school months, after the beginning of the school term, 
and at the close of the school term, for such fraction of three 
months as remains, prepare in duplicate an accurate detailed ac- 
count of the expenses of maintenance of the public schools for such 
three months period or fraction thereof. Said account shall be 
accompanied by vouchers receipted by the payee and showing for 
what purpose each expenditure has been made, and said account 
shall be verified by the treasurer of said board, and certified as to 
correctness by a majority of the school board. The original of 
such account, with accompanying vouchers, shall be forwarded to 
the Commissioner of Education, and the duplicate with vouchers 
retained by the Treasurer of the school board. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 28, P. 73. 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 35 

Approval of Accounts and Manner of Refund 
Section 111. Upon receipt of the detailed expense account 
with accompanying vouchers, the Commissioner of Education shall 
approve the same, or so much thereof as appears to be for expen- 
ditures within the purpose and scope of this act, and thereupon 
transmit the same to be paid by the proper authority who shall 
issue a warrant on the Territorial Treasurer for seventy-five per 
cent. (75 per cent.) of the amount set forth in the account, and 
approved as aforesaid. Such warrant shall be payable to the 
Treasurer of the school board, submitting the said expense ac- 
count, and shall be deposited in the school fund of the incorporated 
town, city or incorporated school district in which such expense 
was incurred, and the amount so received shall be transferred to 
no other fund of the said incorporated town, city or incorporated 
school district; Provided, that the Territorial Treasurer may trans- 
fer by telegraph amounts of said warrants in settlement thereof 
under such regulations as the Territorial Treasurer may prescribe. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 28, P. 73. 



ARTICLE XIII. 

SCHOOL FUND— DISTRICTS OUTSIDE INCORPORATED TOWNS 
Source and Disposition of "Alaska Fund" 

Section 112. All moneys derived from and collected for li- 
quor licenses, occupation or trade licenses outside of the incorpor- 
ated towns in the District of Alaska shall be deposited in the 
Treasury Department of the United States, there to remain as a 
separate and distinct fund to be known as the "Alaska Fund," 
and to be wholly devoted to the purposes hereinafter stated in the 
District of Alaska. One-fourth of said fund, or so much thereof 
as may be necessary, shall be devoted to the establishment and 
maintenance of public schools in said district; five per centum 
of said fund shall bei devoted to the care and maintenance of in- 
sane persons in said district, or so much of said five per centum 
as may be needed; and all the residue of said fund shall be de- 
voted to the construction and maintenance of wagon roads, bridges, 
and trails in said districts. 

Compiled Laws, 1913, Title 9, P. 230. 

Schools For White Children and Children of Mixed Blood 

Section 113. The schools specified and provided for in this 
Act shall be devoted to the education of white children and chil- 
dren of mixed blood who lead a civilized life. 

Compiled Laws, 1913, Title 9, P. 230. 

Additional Funds Provided 

Section 114. So much of the act approved January twenty- 
seventh, nineteen hundred and five, entitled "An Act to provide 
for the construction and maintenannce of roads, establishment and 
maintenance of schools, and care and support of insane persons 
in the District of Alaska, and for other purposes," as provide that 
five per centum of the license moneys collected outside of incor- 
porated towns in the District of Alaska shall be devoted to the 
care and maintenance of such insane persons is hereby repealed, 
and such five per centum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, 
shall hereafter be applied to and used for the establishment and 



36 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 



maintenance of public schools in said district, under the super- 
vision of the Governor. 

Compiled Laws, 1913, Title 9, P. 230. 



ARTICLE XIV. 

SCHOOL TAX 

Persons Taxed — Amount of Tax 

Section 115. That there is hereby made, imposed and levied 
upon each male person, except soldiers, sailors in the United 
States Navy or Revenue Cutter service, volunteer firemen, pau- 
pers, insane persons, or territorial charges, within the Territory 
of Alaska or the waters thereof, over the age of twenty-one years 
and under the age of fifty years, an annual tax in the sum of 
five dollars ($5.00), to be paid and collected in the manner pro- 
vided in the following sections of this Act, and to be deposited 
by the Treasurer of the Territory of Alaska in a separate fund 
called the "School Fund" and used for no other than school pur- 
poses. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 74. 

Duty of Common Councils 

Section 116. It shall be the duty of the Common Council of 
each incorporated town in the Territory of Alaska to provide by 
ordinance for the collection of the tax imposed by this Act within 
the limits of such incorporated town, and for this purpose to des- 
ignate a competent person to act as School Tax Collector who shall 
perform the duties and receive the compensation hereinafter pro- 
vided. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 75. 

Duties of School Boards 

Section 117. It shall bef the duty of the school board in each 
school district outside of incorporated towns in the Territory of 
Alaska to designate a member of such board, or some other com- 
petent person, to act as school tax collector who shall perform 
the duties and receive the compensation hereinafter provided 
in this Act. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 75. 

Publication of Notice — Contents 

Section 118. Every school tax collector shall, en or before 
the first day of April in each year, publish in, at least one news- 
paper of general circulation, published within his school district, 
or if there be no newspaper published therein, then post in five 
(5) public places within his school district, a notice setting forth 
that the tax imposed by this* act is due and payable between the 
dates hereinafter designated and that the payment thereof will 
become delinquent as provided in this act, and warning all per- 
sons to pay the same and that in case of failure, the penalties 
provided in this act will be imposed. 

It shall be the duty of every person, subject to such tax, to 
pay the same to the School Tax Collector within the time which 
such notice specifies. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 75. 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 37 

Notice Published Monthly 

Section 119. The notice herein prescribed shall be published 
at least once a month during the period within which the tax 
is payable or posted at least once a month, as herein provided, 
during- the same period. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 75. 

When Tax Payable 

Section 120. The tax for which provision is herein made 
shall be payable between the first Monday in the month of April 
and the first Monday in the month of August in each year; Pro- 
vided, that all persons subject to the tax who are in the Territory 
of Alaska on the first Monday in the month of April shall pay 
said tax on or before the first day of May in the same year, 
and all persons arriving in the Territory of Alaska after the first 
Monday in the month of April shall pay said tax within thirty 
days (30) days after such arrival; Provided, further, that all 
persons subject to said tax shall pay the same within ten (10) 
days after a written or oral demand by the said School Tax Collec- 
tor made within the period between the first Monday in April 
and the first Monday in August in each year. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 76. 

When Tax Delinquent — Penalty 

Section 121. All taxes shall become delinquent if not paid 
within the times prescribed in the last preceding section or within 
ten (10) days after demand by the School Tax Collector, as above 
prescribed, and each person delinquent in the payment of his tax, 
as aforesaid, shall be subject to a penalty of two dollars ($2.00) 
in addition to the amount of the tax. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 76. 

Penalty For Non-Payment 

Section 122. Any person who shall fail, neglect or refuse to 
pay his tax, as herein provided, shall be deemed guilty of a 
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by 
a fine or not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or by im- 
prisonment in the Federal jail not to exceed one (1) month. All 
fines collected under tihis section shall be covered into the Territor- 
ial Treasury and become a part of the "School Fund." 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 76. 

Receipts 

Section 123. It shall be the duty of the School Tax Collector 
to receipt to each person, upon payment of the tax herein provided 
for, and such receipt shall be the only evidence of payment. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 76. 

Duties and Liabilities of Employers 

Section 124. It shall be the duty of the School Tax Collector 
to demand, and it shall be the duty of every person, firm, or cor- 
poration, employing labor in the Territory of Alaska, to furnish 
to such collector upon demand, a list of the employees of such 
person, firm, or corporation subject to the tax imposed herein, and 
for this purpose the Territorial Treasurer shall furnish to each 
school tax collector suitable blank forms for the making of such 
lists, which blank forms shall be delivered by the school tax col- 
lector to the employers of labor aforesaid. Every such person, 



38 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

firm or corporation having in his or its employ persons subject 
to said tax who neglect to pay the same within the time within 
which the same is due and payable, as provided in Section four 
(4) hereof, shall be liable for the payment of the same and it 
shall be the duty of every such person, firm or corporation to 
deduct from the wages of each of its said employees, who are 
subject to said tax, the amount thereof, unless such employee 
furnishes proof of the payment of the same, and to pay, upon the 
first day of each month, during the period within which the tax 
herein imposed is due and payable, all amounts so deducted and 
collected to the School Tax Collector, together with a list of the 
persons from whom the same are collected, taking a receipt from 
the School Tax Collector, for the amount of each tax so paid, 
and to deliver such receipt to the employee from whom the same 
was collected. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 76. 

Action Against Employers — Penalty 

Section 125. If any person, firm or corporation fails, neglects, 
or refuses to comply with the provisions of this section, such 
person, firm or corporation shall be deemed builty of a misdemeanor 
and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not 
less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dol- 
lars ($500.00). 

Any person, firm or corporation becoming liable for the tax 
of another, as provided in this section, may be proceeded against 
in a civil action prosecuted in the name of the Territory for the 
payment of the same, and there shall be added to the judgment 
in all such cases the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), penalty 
for each tax said person, firm or corporation has failed to collect 
and pay, as in this section provided. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 77. 

Powers of Collector, Duties and Fees of Commissioner 
and Marshal 

Section 126. The School Tax Collector is hereby authorized 
and empowered to collect said tax herein imposed from any person 
owing the same when the same shall become delinquent, or from 
any person, firm or corporation whose duty it is made by this 
Act to pay any tax from his or its employees, by a seizure and sale 
of any personal property belonging to such delinquent or to such 
person, firm or corporation, of sufficient value to pay such tax, 
penalty and costs of sale, that may be found in the district in which 
said tax is due and payable. 

It shall be the duty of the United States Commissioner to issue 
a warrant for such seizure and sale of personal property upon a 
verified complaint being filed by the School Tax Collector, and it 
shall be the duty of the United States Marshal, or any deputy, 
to execute the same. All property seized under the provisions 
of this act shall be sold by said Marshal or Deputy Marshal after 
first giving five (5) days notice of sale to the owner of such prop- 
erty by posting a notice of the time and place of sale of such prop- 
erty in three (3) conspicuous places in the district in which said 
tax is due, for at least five (5) days prior to such sale. 

The fees and costs of the Commissioner and Marshal under this 
section shall be the same as provided by law in the case of levy 
and sale of personal property on execution. From the proceeds 
of any property sold as aforesaid, the Marshal shall deduct the 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 39 



amount of the tax due, penalties, fees and costs, and deliver the 
remainder, if any, to the owner of the property. 

Laws, 1919, Chap. 29, P. 78. 

Duties of Territorial Treasurer 

Section 127. The Treasurer of the Territory of Alaska shall, 
hefore the first Monday in the month of April in each year de- 
liver to each School Tax Collector in the Territory of Alaska blank 
tax receipts, in book form, with stubs numbered the same as the 
receipts, of one hundred (100) in each book, and in sufficient 
number for each school district or incorporated town. 

Laws, 1919, Chap. 29, P. 78. 

Collector to Report 
Section 128. The School Tax Collector shall keep an accurate 
account of all moneys collected by him under this act and shall, 
on the first day of each month during the period within which 
the tax herein provided for is due and payable, transmit all such 
moneys in his hands to the Treasurer of the Territory of Alaska, 
with a list of persons from whom collected. Such statement shall 
be verfied by the affidavit of the School Tax Collector to the ef- 
fect that the same is in all respects a full and true statement 
of all moneys received by him under the provisions of this Act. 
After the first Monday in the month of August in each year, the 
School Tax Collector shall, at least once in three (3) months, file 
an additional statement setting forth any taxes and penalties col- 
lected by him under the provisions of this Act during said period 
of three (3) months, and shall transmit said moneys to the Treas- 
ury of the Territory. Such supplemental statement shall be made 
and verified as herein provided for the first statement. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 79. 

Remuneration of Collector 

Section 129. The School Tax Collector, for services rendered 
under the provisions of this Act, shall receive as full compensa- 
tion fifty cents (50c) for each tax collected, whether the same 
be collected without suit or be collected either by criminal action, 
civil action or seizure and sale of personal property. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 79. 
Tax For Year 1919 — When Due 

Section 130. The tax imposed by this act shall be due and 
payable, as to all persons within the Territory subject to said tax 
at the time of the passage of this act, immediately upon its pas- 
sage and approval and, as to all persons arriving in the Territory 
after the passage of this act, as elsewhere in this act provided. 
For use during the year 1919 it shall be the duty of the Terri- 
torial Treasurer, as soon as notified of the selection and appoint- 
ment of a School Tax Collector in accordance with the provisions 
of this Act, to furnish such School Tax Collector with the blank 
forms and receipt books provided for in Sections eight (8) and ten 
(10) of this act. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 79. 

Governor to Appoint Collector 
Section 131. The Governor of Alaska shall have the power 
to appoint a person to act as School Tax Collector, where neces- 
sary, in any portion of the Territory of Alaska without the limits 



40 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 



of any incorporated town or school district. Such person shall 
furnish a bond as required by this act of other School Tax Collect- 
ors, which bond shall be approved by the nearest United States 
Commissioner and filed with the Territorial Treasurer, and all of 
the provisions of this Act shall apply to the School Tax Collector 
so appointed. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 89. 

Penalty For Non-Perfcrmance of Duty 
Section 132. _ Any School Tax Collector who shall fail to carry 
out the provisions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misde- 
meanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less 
than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred 
dollars ($500.00), and shall be removed from office. 

Laws 1919, Chap. 29, P. 80. 



ARTICLE XV. 

SCHOOL LANDS 

Sections 16 and 36 Reserved' — Section 33 in Tanana Valiey 
Reserved — Provisions For Leasing 

Section 133. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
That when the public lands of the Territory of Alaska are sur- 
veyed, under direction of the Government of the United States, 
sections numbered sixteen and thirty-six in each township in said 
Territory shall be, and the same are hereby, reserved from sale 
or settlement for the support of common schools in the Territory 
of Alaska; and section thirty-three in each township in the Tanana 
Valley between parallels sixty-four and sixty-five north latitude 
and between the one hundred and forty-fifth and the one hundred 
and fifty-second degrees of west longitude (meridian of Green- 
wich) shall be, and the same is hereby, reserved from sale or set- 
tlement for the support of a Territorial agricultural college and 
school of mines when established by the Legislature of Alaska upon 
the tract granted in section two of this act; Provided, That where 
settlement with a view to homestead entry has been made upon 
any part of the sections reserved hereby before the survey thereof 
in the field, or where the same have been sold or otherwise ap- 
propriated by or under the authority of any act of Congress, or 
are wanting or fractional in quantity, other lands may be desig- 
nated and reserved in lieu thereof in the manner provided by the 
act of Congress of February twenty-eighth, eighteen hundred and 
ninety-one (Twenty-sixth Statutes, page seven hundred and ninety- 
one) ; Provided further, That the Territory may, by general law, 
provide for leasing said land in area not to exceed one section to 
any one person, association, or corporation for not longer than 
ten years at any one time; And provided further, That if any of 
said sections, or any part thereof, shall be of known mineral 
character at the date of acceptance of survey thereof, the reser- 
vation herein made shall not be effective or applicable, bat 
the entire proceeds or income derived by the United States 
from such sections sixteen and thirty-six and such section 
thirty-three in each township in the Tanana Valley area herein-, 
before described, and the minerals therein, together with the 
entire proceeds or income derived from said reserved lands, 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 41 

are hereby appropriated , and set apart as separate and per- 
manent funds in the Territorial treasury, to be invested and the 
income from which shall be expended only for the exclusive use 
and benefit of the public schools of Alaska or of the agricultural 
college and school of mines, respectively, in such manner as the 
Legislature of Alaska may by law direct. 

Vol. 38, U. S. Statutes, P. 1214. 

Site For Agricultural College and School of Mines 
Section 134. That section numbered six, in township numbered 
one south of Fairbanks base line and range numbered one west of 
the Fairbanks meridian; section numbered thirty-one, in township 
numbered one north of the Fairbanks base line and range numbered 
one west of the Fairbanks meridian; section numbered one, in 
township numbered one south of the Fairbanks base line and range 
numbered two west of the Fairbanks meridian; and section num- 
bered thirty-six, in township numbered one north of the Fairbanks 
base line and range numbered two west of the Fairbanks merid- 
ian, be, and the same are hereby, granted to the Territory of Alas- 
ka, but with the express condition that they shall be forever re- 
served and dedicated to use as a site for an agricultural college 
and school of mines; Provided, That nothing in this act shall be 
held to interfere with or destroy any legal claim of any person 
or corporation to any part of said lands under the homestead or 
other law for the disposal of the public lands acquired prior to 
the approval of this act; Provided further, That so much of the 
said land as is now used by the Government of the United States 
as an agricultural experiment station may continue to be used for 
such purpose until abandoned for that use by an order of the 
President of the United States or by act of Congress. 
Approved, March 4, 1915. 

Vol. 38, U. S. Statutes, P. 1215. 



ARTICLE XVI. 

LEASE OF SCHOOL LANDS 

Governor and Secretary Lessors 
Section 135. The Governor- and Secretary of the Territory of 
Alaska shall offer and are authorized to lease all lands surveyed 
and reserved under the Act of Congress of the United States, 
dated March 4, 1915, Chapter 181, Section 1, which lease shall be 
made by the said Governor and Secretary in accordance with the 
powers granted the Territory in the above referred to act. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 61, P. 129. 

Lease Money in School Fund 
Section 136. Any lessee of lands covered by the lease above 
specified shall pay to the Territory of Alaska to be deposited in 
its School Fund, a sum to be fixed by the Governor and Secretary 
of the Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 61, P. 129. 

Limitations on Assignment of Lease 
Section 137. No lease issued under authority of this Act shall 
be assigned or sublet without the consent of the Governor and 
Secretary of the Territory. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 61, P. 129. 



42 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

Forfeiture of Lease 

Section 138., Any such lease may be forfeited or canceled in 
a proper proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction whenever 
the lessee fails to comply with any of the provisions of the law or 
of the general regulations promulgated under this Act, and the 
lease may provide for the enforcement of other appropriate remedies 
for breach of specified conditions thereof. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 61, P. 129. 

Application and Contents 

Section 139. All applicants for a lease shall make an applica- 
tion under oath, describing the ground sought to be leased, stating 
the conditions thereof, whether the same is tillable or covered 
with - valuable forest, definitely describing the nature of the trees 
growing thereon, if any such there be, and stating the use which 
the applicant intends to make of the ground sought to be leased. 
Said application is to be made according to the regulations pre- 
scribed by the Governor and Secretary. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 61, P. 130. 

Statements, Etc. Under Oath. 

Section 140. All statements, representations or reports required 
either under this act or under rules and regulations formulated 
hereunder, by the Governor and Secretary of the Territory unless 
otherwise specified, by said Governor and Secretary shall be upon 
oath and in such form and upon such blank as the said Governor 
and Secretary may require, and any person making false oath, 
representation or report shall be guilty of perjury. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 61, P. 130. 

Rules and Regulations 

Section 141. The Governor and Secretary of Alaska are au- 
thorized to prescribe the necessary and proper rules and regula- 
tions and to do any and all things necessary to carry out and ac- 
complish the purposes of this Act. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 61, P. 130. 



ARTICLE XVII. 

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND SCHOOL OF MINES 

College Established 
Section 142. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Territory 
of Alaska, that as soon as the Trustees are appointed as set forth 
in Section 2 of this Act they and their successors in office shall 
be and are hereby constituted a corporation under the name and 
style of "THE ALASKA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND SCHOOL 
OP MINES" and by that name shall be capable in law of suing 
and being sued, taking and holding real and personal property, 
contracting and being contracted with, adopting and using a cor- 
porate seal and changing such seal at their pleasure, and doing 
and causing to be done all matters necessary for the purposes of 
any function as herein set forth. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 62, P. 130. 

Trustees — Appointment and Term of Service 
Section 143. And, be it further enacted, that the Government 
of the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines shall be 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 43 

vested in a Board of eight (8) Trustees, citizens of the Territory 
of Alaska, who shall be appointed by the Governor thereof by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall serve 
without compensation, but shall be paid their reasonable neces- 
sary expenses while engaged in the discharge of their official du- 
ties. Two of said Trustees shall be appointed to serve until the 
first Monday of April, 1919; two to serve until the first Monday 
of April, 1921; two to serve until the first Monday of April, 1923; 
two to serve until the first Monday of April, 1925, and their 
successors thereafter shall be appointed for a term of eight years 
from the first Monday of April of the years in which they are 
appointed, to serve until their successors are appointed and have 
qualified, and any vacancy in the Board shall be filled by appoint- 
ment made in the same manner as in the original appointment, 
but only for the unexpired term thereof. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 62, P. 131. 

Purposes of Institution 

Section 144. Be it further enacted that the Alaska Agricul- 
tural College and School of Mines shall hold all properties and 
all funds herein granted to it and all other property and funds 
hereafter acquired by it, and shall use the same for the purpose 
of conducting a college where the leading object shall be, without 
excluding other scientific and classical studies and including mili- 
tary tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to 
agriculture, the mechanical arts and household economics, in order 
to promote a liberal and practical education. All departments 
of said institution shall be open to both sexes for equal educa- 
tional opportunities. The said Trustees are hereby empowered to 
conduct a college extension service, the leading object of which 
shall be to carry information on rural life subjects to the people 
of Alaska. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 62. P. 131. 

Meetings of Trustees 

Section 145. Be it further enacted that the Trustees of the 
Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines as herein con- 
stituted shall meet and organize and for the orderly conducting of 
the business of said corporation said Trustees shall have the power 
and authority, from time to time, to elect such officers as may 
be required and prescribe their duties and tenures. The meetings 
of the Board of Trustees of the College shall be open to the public 
and the press and all records of such meetings and of all pro- 
ceedings of such Board shall be open to inspection by the public 
and the press at reasonable times thereafter; provided, that 
said Board may hold executive sessions, the findings of said ses- 
sions to be made a part of the record of the proceedings of said 
Board. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 62, P. 132. 

Powers and Duties of Trustees 

Section 146. Be it further enacted that the Board of Trustees 
of said corporation shall have full power and authority to deter- 
mine the time and place of meeting and the manner of notifying 
its members to convene at such meetings, and also to elect, by 
a majority vote of the whole Board, an executive head of the said 
college, who may attend all "meetings of the Board. The said Board 
of Trustees shall establish the position and fix the salaries and 



44 SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 

emoluments of the executive head of the college, all heads of 
departments, professors, teachers, instructors, and other officers; 
and the said Board of Trustees is further empowered to make 
or ordain, as the occasion may require, reasonable rules, orders 
and by-laws not in conflict with the Constitution of the United 
States nor the laws of the Territory of Alaska, with reasonable 
penalties, for the good government of the said corporation, for 
the regulation of their own body, and also by and with the advice 
of the executive head of the college, to determine and regulate 
the course of instruction in said college, but no instruction, either 
sectarian in religion or partisan in politics, shall ever be permitted 
in any department of the college; and no sectarian or partisan 
test shall be allowed or exercised in the appointment of Trustees 
or in the appointment of any instructors or other officers of the 
college, or in the admission of students thereto, or for any purpose 
whatever. And the Board of Trustees shall confer such appropriate 
degrees as they may determine) and prescribe. The Trustees shall 
have the care, control and management of all the real and per- 
sonal property and all moneys of the said college, and shall keep 
a correct and easily understood record of the minutes of every 
meeting and all acts done by them in pursuance of their duties, 
and shall cause to be kept a complete record of all moneys re- 
ceived and disbursements thereof. They shall make a written re- 
port to" the Legislature of the Territory of Alaska at the beginning 
of its regular sessions, of the condition of the college property, 
of all receipts and expenditures and of the educational and other 
work performed, provided, nevertheless, that no corporate, busi- 
ness shall be transacted at any meeting unless at least five of the 
Trustees are present. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 62, P. 132. 

Executive Head — Powers and Duties 

Section 147. Be it further enacted that the executive head 
of the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines shall have 
authority, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees to give 
general direction to the work of the institution in all of its de- 
parments. He shall have power to appoint the heads of depart- 
ments and such other professors, assistants, instructors, tutors, 
and other officers of the said college to the positions established 
by the Board of Trustees, and he shall define their duties, and 
supervise the performance thereof except that the Dean of the 
College shall be nominated and appointed by the majority vote 
of the Board of Trustees. The Trustees shall pave power to re- 
move from office any of the officers of the institution, by a ma- 
jority vote of the whole Board when in their judgment the good 
of the college requires it, provided, also, however, that the power 
to suspend and expel students for misconduct or other causes and 
to reinstate same is vested solely in the executive head of the col- 
lege. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 62, P. 133. 

General 

Section 148. Be it further enacted that all powers, duties and 
obligations devolving upon the said Alaska Agricultural College 
and School of Mines in connection with or by reason of the var- 
ious and several acts of Congress of the United States of America 
now enacted or which may be hereafter enacted in relation to 
Agricultural Colleges and Agricultural or Mining Experiment sta- 



SCHOOL LAWS OF ALASKA. 



tions, extension work in Agriculture and instruction and exten- 
sion work in the Mechanic Arts, are hereby granted and conveyed 
to and imposed upon the Alaska Agricultural College and school 
of Mines to be enjoyed and carried out by it in compliance with 
the acts of the Congress of the United States and of the Legisla- 
ture of the Territory of Alaska, or, as may appear to the best 
interests of the purpose or purposes for which they were created, 
and the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines is hereby 
named and appointed by the Legislature of the Territory of Alaska 
to receive all moneys, appropriations and grants now or hereafter 
coming to the Territory of Alaska from the United States Govern- 
ment, under any Acts of Congress now in force or hereafter to 
be passed for the purpose or purposes herein named. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 62, P. 134. 

Appropriation! — Buildings and Equipment 

Section 149. That for the purpose of constructing buildings, 
for the purchase of equipment such as is necessary to the institu- 
tion herein named, the sum of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) 
is hereby appropriated from the Treasury of the Territory of Alas- 
ka, provided, that one half of this said amount only shall be 
turned over to the Board of Trustees of the Alaska Agricultural 
College and School of Mines during the calendar year of 1917. 

Laws 1917, Chap. 62, P. 134. 



EMPIRE PRINTING COMPANY 

JUNEAU, ALASKA 



